GPU Universal Water Block Roundup

[HardOCP News]

PureOC has rounded-up a handful of universal GPU waterblocks and put them to the test. The round-up features blocks from Swiftech, Koolance, EKWB and XSPC. Here's a quote from the review:

For water cooling enthusiasts that want flexibility and affordability for a graphics card block, the universal GPU water block may be a better solution than a full coverage block. Today we’re looking at five of the most popular universal GPU blocks on the market to find out which can rise to the top and which sink to the bottom

 

[yeap]

Are there any advantages to having a universal GPU water block over a fullcover waterblock?

 

[86 5.0L]

Are there any advantages to having a universal GPU water block over a fullcover waterblock?

cheaper cost and you can use it on the next gen of cards, with a cheap adapter plate.

 

[Flyinfinni]

Being able to use it for the next GPU you buy rather than having to spend the $100 + and only use it for one card. A full cover waterblock is like adding that cost right to the total cost of the GPU every time you upgrade. A universal block is a one time type cost.

 

[Archmage]

GPU-220 and EK HF are the standouts in that review. The rest either don't perform well enough or are too restrictive (unless you're running a GPU-only loop, which is quite possible considering some of the bigger multi-gpu rigs out there, but those guys seem to prefer full-cover blocks anyway).

 

[Kenjuta]

they don't cool the ram though
won't that cause some issues?

 

[Tak Ne]

Yes fullcover waterblocks also usually cool memory & VRMs etc. The universal blocks will generally need more airflow across your card to stop other components overheating.

 

[EvilWays]

I'll take the [H]ard stance on this: If you're gonna watercool your GPU, you may as well go all the way and get the full card block.

 

[wtiger]

card specific water blocks are all but useless. spend $150 and have something that's useless as soon as you upgrade your video card.

 

[OldBuzzard]

GPU-220 and EK HF are the standouts in that review. ...

Given the fact that all of them were within just a few of degrees (2 deg at idle and 4 deg. at load) of each other, I'd say that they are all winners.

That said however, I'm still a 'believer' in full coverage blocks. Yeah, they cost a bit more, but they cool the WHOLE card, not just a portion. If you start adding WC for the VRMs and Memory, the costs start to add up, plus getting them all in the loop would get to be a real PITA..

 

[Tak Ne]

That is especially true for cards such as the HD6990. Two blocks, fittings, pipes and more blocks for mosfet/VRMs (or even just a fan) and its going to be messy and probably not much different in price.

I noticed that two of the blocks dont say they support the HD6xxx series GPUs. While its probably just that compatibility lists haven't been updated there is no guarantee that universal blocks are future-proof.